PROTOTYPE HISTORY:

The 4-bay covered hopper first entered service in the 1960s. The cars handle loads such as diatomaceous earth, plastic pellets and similar bulk commodities. In the 1960s, American Car and Foundry introduced the Centerflow design. The Centerflow relies on the car’s rounded body to provide structural strength without the added weight of bracing, as well as making gravity unloading easier. This 4-bay car came in a 5,250-cubic foot capacity.